Foot warming bed sheet

ABSTRACT

A foot warming bed sheet  10  includes a preselected bed sheet  14 , a foot member or flap  16  having a predetermined configuration, a first end  20  of the foot member  16  being secured to the bed sheet  14  such that the foot member  16  is capable of being disposed by a user&#39;s feet to ultimately encase the user&#39;s feet in a relatively warm pocket  30.

This application is based on U.S. Provisional application No. 60/836,307filed on Aug. 8, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a foot warming bed sheet, and moreparticularly, to a foot warming bed sheet with a foot member that isadjusted by a user or person's feet such that the person's feet areultimately encased by the foot member after the user has reclined to acomfortable position upon a bed.

2. Background of the Prior Art

An aged person or a person with poor circulation may experience “coldfeet” while resting or asleep in bed on a mattress. Devices that havedeveloped to warm or otherwise maintain body heat about the personsfeet, include fixed “tubes” or “pockets” that receive a person's feet asthe person extends their legs.

The problem with prior art devices or methods for maintaining a person'sfeet warm while the person is lying upon a mattress, is that the deviceor method is not adjustable via the person's feet. The lack ofadjustability prevents a snug encasement of the person's feet by a footencasement member (assuming the person's feet extend sufficiently toengage the fixed encasement member) of the prior art device or method,resulting in relatively cool air seeping between sheets or beddingmaterial to ultimately engage the person's feet. Further, the fixedencasement techniques of the prior art can restrict extraction of theperson's feet from the encasement member and/or cause the person's feetto become entangled with the sheet, resulting in discomfort or trippingas the person attempts to rise from the bed or mattress.

A need exists for a foot warming bed sheet that includes a foot memberthat is adjustably configured by a person's feet as the person extendstheir legs to a comfortable position. Further, the foot member mustsnugly encase the person's feet and maintain the feet warm withoutobstructing movement of the person's legs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome many of thedisadvantages associated with prior art devices for warming feet ormaintaining foot warmth while a person is disposed upon a bed.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a foot warmingbed sheet. A feature of the foot warming bed sheet is a foot membersecured to a typical bed sheet proximate to a bottom end of the bedsheet. An advantage of the foot warming bed sheet is that the footmember encases a user's feet in a relatively small pocket, whichmaintains the user's body heat emitted from the user's feet in acorrespondingly small space, thereby keeping the user's feet warm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot warming bedsheet that allows the user to adjust the foot member by extending his orher legs and disposing their feet to forcibly engage and position thefoot member until the foot member encases their feet. A feature of thefoot warming bed sheet is the securing of a first end of the foot memberto a typical bed sheet. Another feature of the foot warming bed sheet isthe planar positioning of the foot member upon a mattress or a bottomsheet, such that a second end of the foot member is disposed closer tothe “top” end of the mattress than the first end of the foot member,which is disposed closer to the “bottom” end of the mattress. Anadvantage of the foot warming bed sheet is that the user is capable ofinserting his or her feet between the typical sheet and the foot member,thereby allowing the user to extend their legs while inserting theirfeet between the sheet and foot member, until their legs are comfortablyextended and their feet are encased in the foot member. Anotheradvantage of the foot warming bed sheet is that the foot member includesa lateral dimension that promotes the encasement of the user's feetirrespective of the disposition of the user's feet relative to thesecured position of the first end of the foot member. Yet anotheradvantage of the foot warming bed sheet is that it may be disposed upona mattress such that the foot warming bed sheet is a “bottom” sheet withthe foot member engaging a top surface of the foot warming bed sheet, orthe foot warming bed sheet may be a “top” sheet with the foot memberengaging a bottom surface of the foot warming bed sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot warming bedsheet that maintains foot warmth for two user's occupying a bedirrespective of varying body height between the user's. A feature of thefoot warming bed sheet is the securing of two foot members to a typicalbed sheet at positions corresponding to the ultimate disposition of thefeet of a respective user. Another feature of the foot warming bed sheetis that the longitudinal dimension of each foot member is substantiallyabout one-half the lateral dimension of the mattress the foot warmingbed sheet is disposed upon. An advantage of the foot warming bed sheetis that both user's feet are maintained warm without discomfortingeither user.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foot warmingbed sheet that is relatively easy to wash. A feature of the foot warmingbed sheet is a foot member that is detachably secured to a typical bedsheet. An advantage of the foot warming bed sheet is that the detachedfoot member will not be torn from the bed sheet when disposed in awasher or dryer.

Briefly, the invention provides a foot warming bed sheet comprising apreselected bed sheet; a foot member having a predeterminedconfiguration; means for securing said foot member to said preselectedbed sheet; and means for disposing said foot member relative to a user'sfeet, whereby the user is capable of adjusting the disposition of saidfoot member such that the user's feet are maintained warm.

Further, the invention provides an adjustable foot warming pocketcomprising a user cover; a foot member; means for securing said footmember to said cover; and means for adjusting said foot member such thata user's feet are ultimately encased by said foot member, whereby theuser's feet are maintained warm irrespective of the position of a bottomend of said user cover.

Also, the invention provides a method for maintaining warm a person'sfeet when the person is disposed upon a mattress, said method comprisingthe steps of providing a bed sheet; configuring a foot member; securinga first end of said foot member to a preselected portion of said bedsheet; and disposing said foot member such that the person is capable ofadjusting said foot member, whereby the person's feet are maintainedwarm irrespective of the position of a bottom end of said bed sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof,will be more fully understood from the following detailed descriptionand attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a foot warming bed sheet positionedabove a bottom bed sheet, which is disposed upon a mattress; a footmember is secured to the foot warming bed sheet between the foot warmingbed sheet and the bottom bed sheet in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is front end elevation view of the foot warming bed sheet of FIG.1 with the bottom bed sheet removed, and the foot member elevated abovethe mattress in a near horizontal position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the foot warming bed sheet of FIG. 1,but with the foot member forming a pocket resulting from a useradjusting the foot member via their feet when extending their legs, theuser ultimately encasing their feet in the pocket of the foot member inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a foot warming bed sheet disposedupon a mattress with the foot member secured to a top surface of thefoot warming bed sheet; a typical sheet covers the foot warming bedsheet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front end elevation view of the foot warming bed sheet ofFIG. 4 with the top sheet partially removed.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a foot warming bed sheet with multiple footmembers secured to a bottom surface in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom elevation view of only the foot warming bedsheet of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a foot warming bed sheet in accordancewith the present invention is denoted by numeral 10, and is depictedcovering a mattress 12 (not part of the present invention). The footwarming bed sheet 10 includes a preselected bed sheet 14, a foot memberor flap 16 having a predetermined configuration, the foot member 16being secured to a preselected portion of the bed sheet 14 via stitchingor similar permanent attaching techniques. The foot member 16 isdisposed relative to a user's feet whereby the user is capable ofadjusting the disposition of the foot member 16 via the user's feet suchthat the user's feet are maintained comfortably warm via the user's ownbody heat emitted from the feet, irrespective of the position of abottom end 18 of the preselected bed sheet 14.

The bed sheet 14 includes a myriad of body covers for the user such assheets, blankets, comforters and sleeping bags. The bed sheet 14 may befabricated from a plethora of materials including but not limited tocotton, polyester, silk, wool and flannel. The bed sheet 14 may includeany configuration or dimension.

The foot member 16 may be fabricated from the same or different materialfrom which the bed sheet 14 is fabricated. The foot member 16 includes asubstantially rectangular configuration with opposite first and secondlongitudinal ends 20 and 22. The first and second longitudinal ends 20and 22 are relatively shorter than the length of bottom and top ends 18and 29 of the bed sheet 14, the ends 20 and 22 are substantially equalin length to the distance separating first and second mattress sides 32and 34. The foot member 16 further includes side edges 28 having alateral dimension (generally fifteen to twenty-four inches)corresponding to the foot size of the user. The side edges 28 of thefoot member 16 are separated from corresponding side edges 24 and 26 ofthe bed sheet 14, a distance that disposes the foot member 16 completelyon top of the mattress 12. The side edges 28 are ultimately disposedadjacent to the first and second sides 32 and 34 of the mattress 12. Thefirst end 20 of the foot member 16 is ultimately secured to apreselected portion of the bed sheet 14 that is closer to the bottom end18 than the top end 29 of the bed sheet 14.

The first end 20 is typically secured to the bed sheet 14 such that thefirst end 20 is ultimately disposed substantially about six inches froma bottom side 31 of the mattress 12, when the sheet 14 is positionedupon the mattress 12. The distance separating the first end 20 of thefoot member 16 from the bottom end 18 of the bed sheet 14 promotesinsertion of the bottom end 18 of the bed sheet 14 under the mattress12, while allowing the user to encase their feet in the foot member 16,between the secured first end 20 and the bottom 31 of the mattress 12,thereby allowing the user to comfortably extend their legs whilemaintaining a foot member pocket 30 that maintains the user's feetcomfortably warm (see FIG. 3). The first end 20 may be permanentlysecured to the bed sheet 14 via thread, or may removably secured viasnaps, latches or Velcro. When the foot member 16 is removably securedto the bed sheet 14 via Velcro, a loop portion of the Velcro ispermanently secured to a predetermined portion of the bed sheet 14, anda hook portion of the Velcro is permanently secured to the first end 20of the foot member 16.

After attaching the foot member 16 to the bed sheet 14 based upon therelative height of the person ultimately using the bed sheet 14, the bedsheet 14 is placed upon the mattress 12 such that the foot member 16 isdisposed between the bed sheet 14 and mattress 12. Generally, a bottombed sheet 15 covers the mattress, thereby disposing the foot member 16between two bed sheets 14 and 15 such that the foot member 16 issubstantially disposed flat or planar between the sheets 14 and 15 withthe second end 22 of the foot member 16 being disposed between the firstend 20 and a top end 29 of the bed sheet 14 (see FIG. 1). The userultimately adjusts the position of the foot member 16 with their feet byinserting their feet between the bed sheet 14 and the foot member 16,then slidably urging the foot member 16 towards the bottom side 31 ofthe mattress 12 such that the first and second ends 20 and 22 of thefoot member 16 cooperate to form a pocket 30 (see FIG. 3) that encasesand keeps warm the user's feet. Alternatively, the foot member 16 may bedisposed on and secured to a top surface of the bed sheet 14, therebyforming a bottom foot warming bed sheet 10. The foot member 16 remainsdisposed between a bottom bed sheet 14 and a top bed sheet 15 (see FIG.4). The foot member 16 is ultimately disposed via a user's feet suchthat a pocket 30 is formed, thereby encasing the user's feet in the footmember 16 and maintaining the user's feet comfortably warm. A blanketmay be used to cover both sheets 14 and 15, and the user therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 6, one or more foot members 16 may be secured to thebed sheet 14 such that the attachment of the first ends 20 of the footmembers 16 vary to correspond to the relative heights of the personsbeneath the bed sheet 14, thereby allowing each person to adjust theirrespective foot member 16 to a position that maintains their feet warmwithout inconveniencing the other person. Further, the plurality offirst ends 20 may be separated a preselected dimension in any directionto promote isolation and comfort for multiple users under the sheet 14.Each person under the bed sheet 14 is able to independently adjust theirrespective foot member 16 with their feet by inserting their feetbetween the bed sheet 14 and a corresponding foot member 16, thenslidably urging the respective foot member 16 towards the bottom side 31of the mattress 12 such that the first and second ends 20 and 22 of eachfoot member 16 cooperate to form a pocket 30, thereby encasing eachuser's feet in a separate foot member 16 to independently maintain eachuser's feet warm.

In operation, a person or user selects a bed sheet 14, blanket orsimilar body cover and a relatively smaller foot member or flap 16 ofthe same or dissimilar material that is dimensioned and configured tocorrespond to the size of the person's feet and the size of the selectedbed sheet 14 or body cover. A first end 20 of the foot member 16 issecured to a preselected portion of the bed sheet 14 that is relativelyclose to a bottom side 31 of the mattress 12. The bed sheet 14 isultimately disposed upon a mattress 12 such that the foot member 16 ison top or underneath the bed sheet 14. The foot member 16 is thendisposed flat or planar underneath or on top of the bed sheet 14 suchthat a second end 22 (unsecured to the sheet 14) of the foot member 16is between the first end 20 and a top end 29 of the bed sheet 14,thereby providing an opening for a person's feet to enter. A person thenslides their feet between the bed sheet 14 and foot member 16 untiltheir legs are comfortably extended and their feet encased in the footmember 16. The person's feet are ultimately disposed between the firstend 20 of the foot member 16 and the bottom side 31 of the mattress 12,or between the first end 20 of the foot member 16 and the top end 29 ofthe bed sheet 14, depending upon the person's height. Irrespective ofthe extension of the person's legs, the person's feet become encased ina pocket 30 formed by the foot member 16, or by the foot member 16cooperating with the sheet 14.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and isnot intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention.The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, whichshould be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.

1. A foot warming bed sheet comprising: a preselected bed sheet; a footmember having a predetermined configuration; means for securing saidfoot member to said preselected bed sheet; and means for disposing saidfoot member relative to a user's feet, whereby the user is capable ofadjusting the disposition of said foot member such that the user's feetare maintained warm.
 2. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 1 whereinsaid foot member comprises: a first end secured to a bottom end portionof said preselected bed sheet; and an opposite second end unsecured tosaid preselected bed sheet.
 3. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 2wherein said foot member includes a substantially rectangularconfiguration corresponding to the configuration of said preselected bedsheet, said first and second ends of said foot member having alongitudinal dimension relatively shorter than a top end of saidpreselected bed sheet, said foot member including side edges having alateral dimension corresponding to the foot size of the user.
 4. Thefoot warming bed sheet of claim 3 wherein said securing means includesstitching said first end of said foot member to said preselected bedsheet.
 5. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 1 wherein said securingmeans includes removably securing said foot member to said preselectedbed sheet.
 6. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 5 wherein saidremovable securing means includes cooperating portions of velcroattached to corresponding portions of said foot member and saidpreselected bed sheet.
 7. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 2 whereinsaid disposing means includes positioning said unsecured second end ofsaid foot member such that said second end is relatively closer to a topend of said preselected bed sheet then said secured first end.
 8. Thefoot warming bed sheet of claim 7 wherein said disposing means includesmoving said foot member such that a pocket is formed that receives auser's feet therein, thereby maintaining the user's feet warm.
 9. Thefoot warming bed sheet of claim 1 wherein a plurality of foot membersare secured to said preselected sheet.
 10. The foot warming bed sheet ofclaim 9 wherein said plurality of foot members are separated apredetermined distance and independently secured to said preselectedsheet.
 11. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 1 wherein said footmember is disposed to slide between said preselected sheet and a bottomsheet covering a mattress.
 12. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 2wherein said first end of said foot member is secured a predetermineddistance from a bottom side of the mattress.
 13. The foot warming bedsheet of claim 12 wherein said predetermined distance promotes insertionof said bottom end of said preselected sheet under the mattress, whileallowing the user to position their feet between said secured first endof said foot member and said bottom side of the mattress, therebyallowing the user to extend their legs and encase their feet via saidfoot member to maintain their feet comfortably warm.
 14. The footwarming bed sheet of claim 3 wherein said foot member includes two sideedges separated a predetermined distance from corresponding side edgesof said preselected sheet.
 15. The foot warming bed sheet of claim 1wherein said preselected sheet is fabricated from a material differentfrom the material of fabrication for said foot member.
 16. An adjustablefoot warming sheet comprising: a user cover; a foot member; means forsecuring said foot member to said cover; and means for adjusting saidfoot member such that a user's feet are ultimately encased by said footmember, whereby the user's feet are maintained warm irrespective of theposition of a bottom end of said user cover.
 17. The adjustable footwarmer pocket of claim 16 wherein said user cover includes a bed sheet.18. The adjustable foot warmer pocket of claim 16 wherein said footmember comprises: a first end secured to a bottom end portion of saiduser cover; and an opposite second end unsecured to said user cover. 19.The adjustable foot warmer of claim 18 wherein said first end of saidfoot member is removably secured to said user cover.
 20. A method formaintaining warm a person's feet when the person is disposed upon amattress, said method comprising the steps of: providing a bed sheet;configuring a foot member; securing a first end of said foot member to apreselected portion of said bed sheet; and disposing said foot membersuch that the person is capable of adjusting said foot member via theirfeet, whereby the person's feet are ultimately encased in said footmember to maintain the person's feet warm irrespective of relativelycool air seeping between sheets and/or covers disposed upon the person.